Battle of Aydın

The Battle of Aydın (Turkish: Aydın Muharebesi or Aydın Savunması, literally: "Defence of Aydın") was a series of wide-scale armed conflicts and military engagements fought between 27 June and 4 July 1919 in and around the city of Aydın during the initial phase of the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922). The conflict was triggered by the advance of the Greek Army into the Menderes Valley and subsequent resistance by local Turkish irregular forces (Kuva-yi Milliye). The battle resulted in the destruction of large portions of the city by fire, heavy civilian casualties on both sides, and widespread displacement of the local population.

Background

Aydın was a central town of the fertile Menderes River (Meander) valley in western Turkey. Although Menderes River valley was not mandated for an occupation by Greek troops by the Paris Peace Conference, 1919, Italian Navy's movements off the coast of Kuşadası had oriented the Greek high command towards becoming the first power to establish an influence in this region.

Extension of occupation zone

The Greek High Commissioner Aristidis Stergiadis, who had arrived in Smyrna on 21 May, authorised on 23 May the troops commanded by Colonel Nikolaos Zafeiriou to issue orders for the occupation of Aydın, Manisa and Turgutlu. The subject of the size of the territory to be occupied by Greek forces were to be governed by uncertainty until 2 June, when Commodore Maurice FitzMaurice from the Royal Navy was appointed to determine the limits of the occupation zone.

Active stage

After its occupation of Smyrna, the Greek army had started to advance into inner Western Anatolia from the first day of their landing at Smyrna and the incursion had extended into the Menderes valley in the second week of the occupation. Aydın, the central city of the region, was occupied on 27 May.

Initial Armed conflicts, 27 June

The warfare around Aydın started by an ambush on 27 June of a Greek patrol by irregular Turkish forces led by Yörük Ali Efe at Malgaç train station, south of Aydın.